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Why you should buy a refurbished Mac

tigaman webdesign — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 11:43:57 +0000

Want to buy a new Mac and don’t want to spend a fortune? Buying a new Mac is an expensive business, but there is a way to get a new Mac for less money.

We don’t mean buy a second-hand Mac from someone on eBay. We mean you can get a brand-new Mac directly from Apple for less money. Read Should I buy a secondhand Mac?

Want to know how? Shop at Apple’s Certified Refurbished Store. On the Refurbished Store you can find Macs from the past few years all with money off Apple’s usual price. See just how much you can save here: How much can you save at Apple’s Refurbished Store.

The price isn’t the only reason to shop at Apple’s Certified Refurbished Store though. Here we’ll tell you all the reasons why you should buy a refurbished Mac.

Apple’s not the only place that sells refurbished Macs. We discuss the Best place to buy a refurbished MacBook or Mac in a separate article and also make some recommendations below.

1. Refurbished Macs are as good as new

You might be thinking that buying from Apple’s Refurbished Store is a bit like buying secondhand, assuming that the Mac had a previous owner and for one reason or another they returned their Mac to Apple. Your concern might be that this means there is something wrong with the Mac, but as you will see from the point below, Apple will have identified and fixed any faults.

The Mac you are buying probably hasn’t come straight from the factory, but its interlude with a prior customer will have been brief. The previous owner may have exercised their consumer rights and returned it unused within 14 days (which is the extent of Apple’s refund and exchange policy). Or the Mac might have been used as a demonstration model, but this doesn’t mean that it will have been used by lots of people and it is unlikely to have undergone any intensive processing.

2. You can get the current generation Macs for less

You can save money on the current generation of Macs if you shop in the Refurbished Store.

For example, in July 2023 we found a refurbished 13-inch MacBook Air with M2 chip for $929, which is a saving of $170, and less than the M1 MacBook Air still sells for.

It usually takes a few months before Apple starts selling the current generation of Macs on the Refurbished Store, but Apple started selling refurbished M2 Pro and M2 Max MacBook Pro and M2 Mac mini in the refurbished store in May 2023, about four months after they initially went on sale in January 2023.

Apple

3. You can get more for your money

Buying from the Refurbished Store is a great way to get a more powerful Mac than the current entry-level for less money.

If you shop for your Mac in your local Apple Store, at an Apple Authorized Reseller, or in Apple’s online store, you can only buy the newest version of a particular Mac. Turn instead to the Refurbished Store and you will find Macs from the past few years at a lower price than their successors.

The really enticing thing is that these older Macs often aren’t a lot different from the current models. Sure, the newer Mac might have the next-generation processor, but if you had the choice of an M2 or an M1 Pro then the M1 Pro would still be a more powerful option. See our Mac processor comparison.

For example, we took a look at the Apple Refurbished Store in July 2023 and found a refurbished 14-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Pro chip (14-core GPU, 512GB SSD, and 16GB Unified Memory) for $1,539. This is a saving of $360 on the $1,899 price it had when it was new. But the deal is even better when you consider that a brand new 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 chip, configured to have the same 512GB SSD and 16GB memory, would cost $1,699 and would be a less powerful Mac with a 10-core GPU.

Typically you can see the following savings at Apple’s Refurbished Store for the current generation and older generation Macs:

$90-$170 off a MacBook Air.
$190 -$610 off a MacBook Pro.
$90-$200 off a Mac mini.
$200-$260 off an iMac.
$270 off a Mac Studio.

There are also some big savings to be had on Intel-powered iMacs.

4. Apple tests and replaces parts if necessary

You might be thinking that this is all very well, but these are Macs that are likely to have been returned to Apple due to a fault with them. Would it be unwise to buy a Mac that has already proven to be faulty?

The great news here is that you can be sure that any fault will have been rectified by Apple. The company says that all refurbished Macs include “full functional testing, genuine Apple part replacements (if necessary),” as well as “a thorough cleaning”.

The Mac you are buying will have had more checks than any Mac coming straight from a factory so you can be sure that any problems will have been caught.

Apple

5. You get a one-year warranty and 90 days of tech support

Even better, you get a one-year warranty, so if anything does go wrong getting it fixed will be easy and free.

You also get complimentary technical support, which means you will be able to phone Apple up if you have any problems with setup, installation of software, and any connection problems.

You can also extend the one-year warranty up to three years if you buy AppleCare protection when you purchase your refurbished Mac.

If you buy secondhand from another source you will only have any remaining warranty left over–and since the model you are buying is likely to be more than a year old this protection will have expired.

6. It’s dispatched for free with free returns

Because you are buying the Mac from Apple directly it comes with other benefits. For example, not only will there be no shipping costs associated with your new Mac (Apple will dispatch it to you for free).

You will also be protected by Apple’s 14-day returns policy, which means that if you change your mind you can send it back, no questions asked, within two weeks.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

7. You could get your new Mac today!

Another benefit is that if the Mac is in stock at your local Apple Store you could pick it up today. And if you would prefer that it was delivered to you, it could arrive as soon as tomorrow.

8. You can purchase your refurbished Mac with financing options

If you don’t have the money right now you can still get your new Mac. Apple offers financing options. In the U.S. Apple offers its own Apple Card which brings the advantage of 3% Daily Cash Back when you buy from Apple.

The Apple Card isn’t available in the U.K., but Barclays and PayPal Credit provides finance if you want to buy a new Mac. You just need to apply for financing when you check out.

You can also trade in an old product to get credit toward your new purchase. You could get up to $775/£615 credit for trading in a MacBook Pro, for example.

9. You don’t have to deal with a previous user

Dealing with Apple is a real benefit. You don’t need to deal with a previous owner who might not be completely honest about problems with the machine, or might be difficult if later on you experience problems.

Dealing with Apple directly should give you peace of mind that you are buying exactly what is advertised and that if there are any issues they will be dealt with professionally.

10. You might be able to save even more

Apple isn’t the only place you can buy a refurbished Mac. There are a number of Apple Resellers and Refurbishment specialists who will also sell you a secondhand Mac that has been thoroughly checked over.

We’d advise that you are a little more cautious if it isn’t Apple selling the refurbished Mac, and we recommend that you don’t buy a very old Mac, even if it has been refurbished, but this can be a good way to get a reasonably new Mac for less.

These refurbished stores will have thoroughly checked the Mac so you can be confident it will work!

In the U.S.:

In the U.K.:

If you want to know more about buying a refurbished Mac, read this: Where to buy a Refurbished Mac.

We also have
Best Place to buy a Mac and
When is the best time to buy a Mac.

For advice about which Mac to buy read out
Best Mac Buying Guide

And if you want a deal on a new Mac, read:
Best MacBook Pro deals or
Best iMac deals

Mac, MacBook

Your Mac screen could one day act as a smart display, according to report

tigaman webdesign — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 16:54:55 +0000

Macworld

StandBy, one of a number of appealing new features in this year’s iOS 17 software update, enables iPhones to act as smart displays when plugged in and not otherwise in use. This means they can serve a secondary function as a reduced-brightness (or red-tinted) digital alarm clock with a few useful widgets while charging overnight. But based on a new report, Apple is considering a similar feature for the Mac.

Of course, your Mac is less likely to be sitting beside your bed during the night, so the analogy isn’t exact. But there’s considerable merit to the idea of the screen automatically transitioning into a more general info hub when it would otherwise be sleeping (and assuming battery conservation isn’t a concern). It could feature a clock, a calendar, weather info, smart-home controls, a rotating gallery of photos, or any number of other useful widgets or controls.

It seems that Apple feels the same way. In the subscriber-only version of his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg leaker-analyst Mark Gurman says Cupertino’s engineers are working on a new Mac display that will feature its own Apple silicon processor. That in itself isn’t new: the Studio Display runs an A13. But this device will be specced to act (like an iOS 17 iPhone) as a standalone smart display when not required for its day job.

Given that StandBy has only just been announced for the iPhone, and that this is the very first we’ve heard about this development for a Mac display, we’d expect this to be a long way from launch, if indeed it ever becomes reality. But it’s worth mentioning that, as The Verge observes, such a feature has been rumored in the past, only for the iPad.

Leaving aside the smart-display feature, there have been many rumors about Apple’s upcoming standalone displays. Last December it was reported that the company was working on multiple such devices for launch in 2023, and there are hopes–albeit in the considerably longer term–that a 27-inch mini-LED display is in the pipeline.

Apple Inc

Vava 12-in-1 USB-C Docking Station review: Modern design with outdated USB ports

tigaman webdesign — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 20:31:50 +0000

The Vava 12-in-1 USB-C Docking Station is good to have if you need more ports than your MacBook supplies you — assuming the ports you need are USB-A.

Vava 12-in-1 USB-C Docking Station

Laptops today, such as the M2 MacBook Air, come with remarkable power but offer limited ports. This may not be an issue for the ordinary user, but for photographers and content creators, it can become a huge inconvenience.

Best pencil or stylus for iPad, iPad Air, Pro and mini

tigaman webdesign — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 09:28:06 +0000

Macworld

The iPad is a capable device for both art and productivity, but it becomes a stronger proposition in both areas if you have a good stylus to hand.

Whether you’re sketching a new building design, taking notes during a work meeting or designing graphics, a stylus is a gamechanger. But with so many to choose from in just about every shape and size, which is the best for your needs? Everyone has heard of the Apple Pencil, but there are plenty of great alternatives that cost a fraction of the price.

Here are the best iPad styluses available right now.

Updated June 29 to add Adonit Log Stylus

Apple Pencil (2nd generation) – Best overall

Best Prices Today:

$17.99 at Best Buy $129.00 at Adorama $129.00 at Apple

The Apple Pencil is an obvious choice, what isn’t quite so obvious is which Apple Pencil you should choose. There are two Apple Pencils. The Apple Pencil 1st generation is still on sale despite launching in 2015 and there is an Apple Pencil 2nd generation, which launched in 2018. The first generation Apple Pencil, which features later in this round-up, works with the current 9th and 10th generation iPads as well as a number of older iPad models. The second generation Apple Pencil, works with the 12.9in iPad Pro (3rd gen up), 11in iPad Pro (1st gen up), iPad Air (4th gen up) and iPad mini (6th gen).

When we reviewed the Apple Pencil 2nd gen back in 2018 we gave it 5 stars. It’s shorter than the original and Apple has given the 2nd gen Pencil a flat edge you can tap to trigger app-specific functions. This actually makes Apple’s stylus easier to hold and it stops it rolling off your desk. The 2nd gen Pencil is also magnetically attachable to the iPad, which also helps with the rolling.

Another major change is that the 2018 Pencil has no Lightning connector for charging, instead, it charges wirelessly when connected to the iPad, which is much neater. The 2nd gen Pencil is matt white rather than the glossy white of the original (which could be a bit dazzling). You can also tell the two apart because the original had a metallic ring next to the charging cap.

Both the 1st and 2nd generation Apple Pencils are equally responsive and pressure-sensitive. You can tilt the stylus to create different textures, making it a great tool for handwriting, sketching, note-taking and illustration.

Read our full

Apple Pencil (2nd generation) review

Adonit Star

Best Prices Today:

$49.99 at Adonit $49.99 at Amazon

If you want something that feels more like a real pen, a fountain pen at that, then the Adonit Star will be a breath of fresh air. The classic design is reminiscent of a Mont Blanc, but without some of the bulk and most of the price. Popping off the cap reveals a fountain-pen style nib, replete with the ink feed on the back, but on closer inspection, you’ll see that the metal cuts off early, with a black rubber 1mm fine tip being what will actually touch the screen.

As you might expect, the Star is very much intended for those who want to make notes and generally just write on their iPad. It doesn’t have pressure sensitivity, so you can’t have thicker or thinner strokes depending on how hard you press, which would rule it out for most artists. That’s fine though, there’s the Apple Pencil for that. Instead, you get a balanced and very comfortable writing experience, aided in no small measure by Adonit’s excellent palm cancellation feature.

Pairing is simply a matter of pressing the small button on the Star, then when the blue light comes on you should be good to go. If it starts flashing red, this means it is time for a recharge, so unscrew the bottom of the pen and there’s a USB-C port. The Star takes around an hour to charge and will then work happily for around 10 hours or so.

Adonit has come up with something genuinely unique in the Star. Classy looking, nice to write with, and it will definitely get some looks when you pull it out in a meeting to make notes. If there’s such a thing as a Stylus connoisseur, then you can bet that the Adonit Star would be a prizes part of their collection.

Zagg Pro Stylus

Best Prices Today:

$49.87 at Amazon $53.99 at Best Buy

The Zagg Pro Stylus allows users to take precise and quick notes, sketch, mark up documents and more.

It features a capacitive rear tip for quick and easy scrolling and an active tip for smooth, crisp strokes. A tilt detection system also allows you to create thick or thin lines.

This stylus connects automatically and is compatible with all apps that support the Apple Pencil.

It’s compatible with the iPad (6-9th gen), iPad mini (5th gen), 11in iPad Pro (1-3rd gen), 12.9in iPad Pro (3-5th Gen), iPad Air (4-5th gen).

Apple Pencil (1st generation) – Best for older iPads

Best Prices Today:

$6.49 at Best Buy $99.00 at Adorama $99.00 at Apple

The second generation Apple Pencil features earlier this round-up, but we still recommend the first generation Apple Pencil, which is still on sale. The older Apple Pencil works with the current 9th and 10th generation iPads as well as a number of older iPad models including the 6th generation iPad and later, the iPad Air (3rd gen), iPad mini (5th gen) and the original iPad Pro (1st and 2nd gen). If those are the iPads you have that this is the Apple Pencil for you. Unsure: check which iPads work with which Apple Pencil. We compare the two generations of Apple Pencil in Apple Pencil (2018) vs Apple Pencil (2015).

One benefit of the older Apple Pencil, assuming it works with your iPad, is that it is cheaper than the second-generation version at $99/£109 rather than $129/£139.

The original Apple Pencil is almost entirely white, with just a metallic band at the non-writing end by the charging cap. This cap conceals a Lightning port for charging and syncing. When you want to charge the Pencil you can just plug it into the iPad’s Lightning port or use an adapter if your iPad has a USB-C port (as is the case with the iPad 10th gen). There is a downside to charging this way: you can’t use the Pencil while it is charging and it looks pretty ridiculous. Here’s how to check the Apple Pencil’s battery percentage.

The Pencil feels pretty good in the hand, with a nice weight to it. The Apple Pencil and compatible iPads have sensors that can detect the pressure you’re using and the angle you’re holding the stylus at, making it effortless to create lines of different thicknesses. In the Pencil’s tip there are two tilt sensors which the iPad’s display will keep track of to work out the exact orientation and angle of your hands as you draw. For example, you can use the side of the Pencil’s tip for realistic shading like you would with a real pencil lead. The Apple Pencil knows to ignore the wrist and palm

You get a spare tip in the box, but it’s identical to the one that comes attached to the Pencil.

Read our full

Apple Pencil (1st generation) review

Adonit Log

Best Prices Today:

$39.99 at Amazon

A stylus bearing the name Log might conjure up ideas of a heavy, cumbersome digital pen, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Adonit uses the name to bring attention not only to the tree-born casing of the stylus, but also because each one is made from sustainable wood. This means the grain pattern in every Log is unique, which makes a nice change from the identical plastic that adorns most styli.

In the hand, the Log is light and very comfortable to use, with a matte finish that still provides enough grip for accurate writing. It’s light too, at only 13g, making a mockery of its name once more.

At one end of the wooden casing you’ll find a USB-C charging port, while the other is home to the 1mm tip. The latter is also replaceable, with new nibs available from Adonit for around $15/£15. This means the Log can be kept in good working condition for a long time, which is in keeping with its sustainability motif.

To pair the Log, simply tap the slim button on its side. When the blue light comes on, it automatically connects to the iPad and you’re good to go. It’s not even Bluetooth, so I suspect Adonit is using witchcraft of some sort.

Writing is very smooth, with the tip sliding easily across the display and producing no notable delay or judders that can affect other styluses. I found it excellent for note-taking, even over long sessions as the light frame and consistent performance meant I forgot about the Log and just got on with my writing. Adonit’s palm rejection technology also means that you can happily lean your hand on the iPad display without extraneous characters appearing in the document or other weirdness.

You don’t get the pressure sensitivity found on the Apple Pencil, so you can’t create thicker and thinner lines by pressing harder or softer, which rules it out for those who want to create digital art on their iPad.

Battery life is great, with a one-hour charge resulting in around 24 hours of use. Should you not want to wait that long, then pop it on charge for about five minutes and you’ll be able to write for an hour.

If you’re after a simple stylus for jotting things down and navigating through the iPad interface, then you can’t go wrong with the Adonit Log.

Logitech Crayon

Best Prices Today:

$68.99 at Best Buy $69.95 at Apple $69.99 at Adorama

While the Logitech Crayon was originally framed as an education tool, the cheap Apple Pencil alternative is now available to anybody that wants it.

In many ways, the Crayon functions in the same way as the Apple Pencil, complete with easy pairing, reliable palm rejection and tilt support, but there’s one big omission: there’s no pressure sensitivity available here. That’s likely to be a dealbreaker for graphic designers, but if you’re only looking to use a stylus for note-taking, you’re unlikely to notice a difference in performance.

You’ve also got a seven-hour battery life on offer, which should be more than enough for the majority of consumers, and it’s charged up via a hidden Lightning port. That’s not quite as premium as the wireless charging from the second-gen Apple Pencil, but it’s certainly better than the original Apple Pencil.

It’s compatible with the iPad (6-10th gen), iPad mini (5-6th gen), 11in iPad Pro (1-4th gen), 12.9in iPad Pro (3-6th Gen), iPad Air (3-5th gen).

Bargains Depot B&D 2-in-1 Stylus

Best Prices Today:

$6.99 at Amazon

The B&D Stylus is a bargain at under a tenner.

It’s made fully of aluminum and comes with twenty extra rubber tips in two different sizes so you can adjust the accuracy of lines. It’s dual tipped too, so you can use a different size on either end.

There is no need for Bluetooth or charging with this stylus.

The B&D Stylus is compatible with all iPads, iPhones, and other touchscreen devices.

Meko Capacitive Stylus Pen

Best Prices Today:

$12.95 at Amazon

The Meko stylus can be used for note-taking, drawing, writing, and basic selection and navigation – and like the B&D option, it is also made of aluminum without any plastic parts. It uses a disc tip like a few other options in this list.

For an affordable price, you get two Meko styli, two fibre tips, and four replacement disc tips.

Apple Inc, Computer Accessories, iPad

iOS 16.6 beta 4 released while we wait for the iOS 17 public beta

tigaman webdesign — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 17:50:14 +0000

Macworld

Apple began the beta testing process for iOS 16.6 just a day after the iOS 16.5 release and about two weeks before the expected first iOS 17 developer beta arrives at WWDC. The beta was first released to developers first on May 19, and to public beta testers on May 22.

We don’t expect there to be much in the way of new features in this release–iOS 16 is about as mature as it’s going to be, and all eyes are on the impending features announced for iOS 17. Still, small tweaks and usability upgrades are possible just as we got in iOS 16.5, and of course security updates are never-ending.

Most of us have moved on to iOS 17, especially since it can now be downloaded with a free developer account now instead of requiring a $100/yr subscription. Still, we recommend most users don’t run the first developer beta, but instead wait for the iOS 17 Public Beta coming in July.

Update 06/27/23: Apple has released the fourth beta of iOS 16.6. It is only available for developers now, with the public beta expected soon.

iOS 16.6: New features

We don’t yet know what new features to expect in iOS 16.6. We will update this article as we discover what’s new.

iMessage Contact Key Verification: Though not yet exposed to users, the iOS 16.6 betas contain code to enable iMessage Contact Key Verification. This is an enhanced security measure announced last year to verify the authenticity of iMessage users, aimed at those who have extremely high security demands (like those frequently targeted by state-sponsored digital threats).

iOS 16.6: How to install the public beta

If you want to be among the first to test iOS 16.6, you can sign up for the public beta test. The process for installing a beta has changed in iOS 16.4. Here’s how the new process works:

Click Sign Up on the Apple Beta page and register with your Apple ID.
Log in to the Beta Software Program.
Click Enroll your iOS device.
Open the Settings app, tap General, then Software Update.
In the Beta Updates section, select the iOS Public Beta.

It may take a few moments after registering for the beta option to appear in Software Update.

iOS 16.6: How to install the developer beta

You’ll need to be registered as an Apple developer. Joining the Apple Developer Program costs $99 a year.

Register for the Apple developer program at developer.apple.com.
Open the Settings app, tap General, then Software Update.
In the Beta Updates section, select the iOS Developer Beta.

Registered developers can choose to get the Public Beta instead by selecting iOS Public Beta in the Software Update screen. It may take a little time after registering as a developer for the option to appear in Software Updates.

Some developers have an Apple ID registered for developer access that is different from the Apple ID associated with their personal Apple account and data. To use a different Apple ID for beta access than is used throughout the rest of iOS, open Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and select the Apple ID at the bottom of the screen.

iOS 16.6 beta: Risks and precautions

Note first of all that betas are test versions of upcoming software. They are by definition unfinished, and while they should include most or all of the features in the finished product, there will be cosmetic differences and, inevitably, some glitches and problems that will need to be fixed. The glitches and problems are why Apple bothers to beta-test iOS in the first place.

In other words, don’t expect a perfect user experience. In particular, don’t expect existing apps (including ones that you may rely on) to work perfectly with the new version. In extreme cases, you may even find that your device is bricked by the beta, and cannot be used until the next beta comes along and hopefully fixes the problem. It’s not uncommon for early beta software to exhibit problems like excessive battery drain, too.

The closer we get to the final launch and iOS version, the more polished and feature-complete we can expect the available betas to become. The counter to that, of course, is there will be less time left to wait for the official launch, so you won’t be gaining so much by installing a beta.

Assuming you decide to go ahead, we can’t stress enough how important it is to back up your iPhone before you install an iOS beta, or better still, use a secondary device rather than your main iPhone. You won’t lose everything if something goes wrong while the beta is installing, and you’ll be able to go back to the last version should you find that you don’t like the new software after all, or that it’s too buggy.

iOS

California hiker saved thanks to Emergency SOS via satellite on her iPhone 14

tigaman webdesign — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 19:23:54 +0000

A woman hiking in Trail Canyon Falls in the Angelos National Forest in California has been saved thanks to Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite service on her iPhone 14.

Apple’s groundbreaking safety service Emergency SOS via satellite

Leanne Suter for KABC:

A woman who suffered a broken leg while hiking in Tujunga was able to call 911 despite not having cell phone service due to a new and innovative feature on the iPhone 14.

Juana Reyes was hiking with friends in a remote part of Trail Canyon Falls in the Angelos National Forest when the trail collapsed underneath her.

“We tried to get a hold of 911 but there was no service on our phones,” said Reyes in an interview with Eyewitness News. “Thankfully, my phone has that SOS satellite feature that was able to connect to… I’m assuming satellites.”

The feature Reyes is referring to is the iPhone 14’s “Emergency SOS via satellite” feature.

As the name suggests, you can use the feature to text emergency services when you’re out of cell and Wi-Fi coverage. You can also use the Find My app to share your location via satellite.

Ankle injury hoisted by @LACoFireAirOps after we were notified via iPhone 14 911 sos satellite feature. pic.twitter.com/Z7e18VLgQs

— Mike Leum (@Resqman) June 24, 2023

LASD said Reyes was the department’s third “iPhone rescue” of the year.

RESCUE! Her iPhone 14 notified us via the satellite 911 feature. Ankle injury in Trail Cyn, wasn’t able to hike out. LACO Fire did a hoist. @LASDHQ @LACoSheriffLuna @MontroseSAR @CVLASD @CbsLos @NBCLA @KTLAnewsdesk @ABC7 @FOXLA @LACoFireAirOps @LACOFD pic.twitter.com/WlfXiYgp4C

— Mike Leum (@Resqman) June 24, 2023

MacDailyNews Note: Just last month, ten missing hikers were rescued from a California canyon thanks to Apple’s Emergency SOS feature.

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The post California hiker saved thanks to Emergency SOS via satellite on her iPhone 14 appeared first on MacDailyNews.

iPhone 14’s Emergency SOS via Satellite Feature Saves California Hiker

tigaman webdesign — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 18:48:11 +0000

Emergency SOS via Satellite, a feature introduced with the iPhone 14 models, over the weekend saved a hiker who was injured on a trail. As reported by ABC7, Juana Reyes was hiking a remote part of the Trail Canyon Falls in the Angeles National Forest when she suffered an accident.

A part of the trail collapsed underneath her, breaking her leg. She had no cellular service, nor did the people who were with her, but she did have an ‌iPhone 14‌. “Thankfully, my phone has that SOS satellite feature I was able to connect to… I’m assuming satellites,” she said.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Operations Section was able to get to Reyes after receiving a satellite call. She was successfully air lifted to safety using a helicopter.

Ankle injury hoisted by @LACoFireAirOps after we were notified via iPhone 14 911 sos satellite feature. pic.twitter.com/Z7e18VLgQs

— Mike Leum (@Resqman) June 24, 2023

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, three iPhone rescues have been conducted over the course of the year, one of which was in the same general area. Last December, a vehicle went over the side of a mountain on the Angeles Forest Highway in the Angeles National Forest, with Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via Satellite used to contact rescuers.

Emergency Satellite via SOS is available to all ‌‌‌iPhone 14‌‌‌ users, and it can be activated when an emergency situation occurs and there is no WiFi or cellular connection available. Emergency SOS via Satellite works in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, and the UK.

Tag: Emergency SOS via Satellite

This article, "iPhone 14's Emergency SOS via Satellite Feature Saves California Hiker" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Know the price-matching policies for Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and others

tigaman webdesign — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 19:46:52 +0000

Illustration by Samar Haddad / The Verge

Nothing is more frustrating than buying a new pair of headphones, an OLED TV, or a backpack just to find out that you could have gotten it for a lot cheaper somewhere else. In order to keep customers happy — and prevent them from going elsewhere — many retailers offer price-matching policies where they promise to match a lower price you’ve found elsewhere. That’s information that could come in handy now that we’re just a few weeks out from Amazon Prime Day, which will be taking place on July 11th and July 12th.

What follows are the price-matching policies for a variety of major retailers. There are a few things to make note of here. First, all price-matching policies have a number of rules attached to them. We’ve summarized some of the rules here, but you’d be advised to go to the links that we’ve provided and read the policy carefully. Second, and logically enough, retailers that serve as marketplaces for other sellers, such as Costco, don’t have price-matching policies.

Lastly, there are always exceptions to the rules. If you’re looking for a deal on a product and you know it’s available for a lower price elsewhere (or it was previously offered at the same retailer), it never hurts to call or chat with a customer service rep and ask if they’ll match the price. After all, what do you have to lose?

If Best Buy offers a better discount than Target on the latest Kindle Paperwhite, Target will refund you the difference.

Amazon

Amazon doesn’t offer price matching. Full stop. You can contact customer support, but even if you’re an Amazon Prime customer, they’re not likely going to help you out.

That said, Amazon does offer a pretty liberal return policy, meaning you can often return an item you purchased from Amazon if it’s available for less elsewhere (or at Amazon). Then, you can just repurchase the product wherever it’s cheapest.

Target

Target will match the price of an item that you find for less either at Target or at a select list of competitors if you ask for it at the time of or within 14 days of your purchase. You must bring the original ad or listing, whether digital or in print, along with your receipt into the store. Alternatively, you can call for online purchases at 1-800-591-3869 or chat online via contactus.target.com.

Be mindful, however, this price-matching policy does not apply to doorbusters and competitors’ lightning sales, like those that Amazon offers. It also doesn’t apply to products that require that you log in to see the price.

Best Buy

Best Buy’s Price Match Guarantee states that a product could be eligible for a price reduction if it’s new, identical to the competitor’s product, immediately available at a qualifying competitor’s store or on its site, and not shown on Best Buy’s exclusion list (which includes “items for sale the Friday before Thanksgiving Day through the Monday after Thanksgiving”).

To get the difference, you have to contact Best Buy via its on-site chat and be able to show the ad or website with a lower price point. Alternatively, you can call 1-888-237-8289 or visit any Best Buy or Pacific Sales store.

Best Buy will also, upon request, match an in-store or online price that was lowered during the return and exchange period, which typically lasts up to 15 days.

Walmart

Walmart’s online store offers price matching on items purchased from Walmart stores if the item is in stock at Walmart.com. However, the policy doesn’t apply to those who live in Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico. Additionally, it doesn’t apply to special event prices, like those seen during Black Friday. Walmart also does not retroactively price match items bought from Walmart.com that have dropped in price after the time of purchase.

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Apple doesn’t offer a price-matching policy, though can you can price match on devices like the new 15-inch MacBook Air — assuming it’s on sale — elsewhere.

Apple

While we’ve seen some claims that Apple will price match up to 10 percent for products bought at certain major retailers, there is no official policy on the company’s website.

Apple does say that if it reduces its price on an Apple-branded product within 14 days from when you received your item, you can visit an Apple Store or contact the Apple Contact Center at 1-800-676-2775 to request a refund or get credit for the price difference. However, that doesn’t apply to special sales like Black Friday or Cyber Monday.

B&H Photo

B&H says that it might be able to honor a current lower price or match the price of a competitor, but it does so on a case-by-case basis. You have to contact its Customer Service team using the on-site chat, email, or by calling 800-606-6969 / 212-444-6615.

Costco

Costco does not price match with competitors. However, according to the website, it will issue a credit for the difference between the price a member has paid and a promotional price if you bought the item online at Costco and requested the credit up to 30 days before the change in price. If you bought the product from a Costco warehouse location, visit the membership counter at the store where you made the purchase.

Dell

Dell will price match identical products from Dell, Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, HP, Apple, Lenovo, and a number of other retailers. You can call 1-888-969-4503 or chat online to run a price check, but you’ll need to provide a link to the competitor’s product.

You can also contact the company about a price difference within 30 days of purchase. However, there is a long list of restrictions, and none of this is available between Thanksgiving Day and the Monday following Thanksgiving (or on Green Monday).

eBay

If you find a lower price from a qualifying competitor on an eBay Deal item that you bought within 48 hours — or on another product with the “Best Price Guarantee” symbol attached to it — you’ll get “110 percent” of the difference. That means eBay will give you an eBay coupon for the difference in price between what you bought the item for and what the competitor is selling it for, plus an additional 10 percent of that price difference. Note, however, these coupons will expire within 30 days of being issued.

The products must be new and unopened and identical to the competitor’s item. You have to contact eBay Customer Service, and if they verify your claims are legitimate, you will receive the coupon and be able to use it toward your next eBay purchase.

GameStop

GameStop does not mention an official price-matching policy on its website. In August, however, GameStop tweeted that the store will price match items sold and shipped by Amazon as long as they’re available online or in-store. Although GameStop only mentioned Amazon in the tweet, others have reported that the store will price match items purchased from Target and elsewhere.

Google

Google will match online pricing from select retailers — specifically Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, B&H Photo, and Target — if a request is made within the standard return period. It doesn’t, however, match preorder pricing from other retailers or carrier deals. The product also must be identical, right down to the color and configuration, and must be in stock. Plus, you need to provide a public link to the promo page or product listing to verify the rival’s price.

You may also get the difference if a product purchased from the Google Store lowers in price within the standard return period. To get the price match or correction, contact Google.

The Home Depot

The Home Depot will match the price of identical, in-stock products from other retailers, except for membership-based wholesalers. The price-match policy does not apply to special events like Black Friday, though, and you must bring the ad or listing with you in-store to the register. Additionally, The Home Depot will only honor requests submitted by the original buyer — no friends or family allowed.

Image: Monica Chin / The Verge

You could potentially buy HP’s Spectre x360 14 at a lower price thanks to HP’s price-matching policy.

HP

According to HP’s website, the company will match the current pretax price for new comparable PCs and identical HP printer, display, and accessory model numbers from nationally recognized online retailers, such as Dell, Amazon, Newegg, and Best Buy. The specs have to be the same, but the product model number does not need to be identical for computers. You have to ask for the match at the time of purchase by calling 1-800-888-0229. You can’t request a price match via email or chat, though, and the policy does not extend to items bought during promotional periods.

If you find a comparable product at a lower price during the return period, you can email HP at myhpsales@hp.com. This only applies to branded HP products and doesn’t apply to products purchased during certain promotional events, like HP’s Fourth of July sale.

Lenovo

Lenovo matches pricing on comparable PCs from Lenovo, HP, or Dell with the same key specs as long as they’re sold through a list of recognized retailers. That said, you can’t take advantage of coupons or special discounts while receiving a price match, and the policy doesn’t apply to membership stores like Costco. The comparable PC also must be in stock and readily available from both Lenovo and the competing retailer, and you have to contact a Lenovo sales rep in order to facilitate the match.

Lenovo also offers a price guarantee refund for laptops and personal desktop computers bought from Lenovo.com within 30 days of purchase. To receive a refund, you must contact Customer Care and show the lower price of the identical product offered on Lenovo.com. This policy doesn’t apply to doorbuster or clearance products, however.

Lowe’s

Lowe’s will match the price of identical, in-stock products when you present an ad, product listing, or photo from a qualifying online or local retailer, including Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. To request a price match, head to the store, call 1-877-465-6937, or chat online. The policy doesn’t apply to special sales like Black Friday, nor will Lowe’s honor requests from anyone other than the original purchaser. It also doesn’t match prices from one Lowe’s store to another.

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

If Microsoft lowers the price of the Xbox Series X, Microsoft could refund you the difference.

Microsoft

Microsoft will refund you the difference if it lowers the price of a physical product purchased online from the Microsoft Store within 60 days of purchase. You can contact Microsoft’s Sales and Support team at 1-877-696-7786 to get a refund. If you purchase an item from a Microsoft Experience Center, you’ll have to go back to that location with your receipt.

Newegg

Newegg offers price matching on select items; these products are identified by the label “Price Match Guarantee” that appears in the price box on the right side of the product page. This applies whether you find that lower price on Newegg or at what Newegg judges to be a major retailer. Regardless, you need to notify Newegg of the lower price within 14 days of purchase. You’ll then be issued a credit you can use on the Newegg website, though you’ll only have 90 days to do so.

Newegg’s price-match guarantee is not valid during major holiday sales events, including Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Green Monday.

Sam’s Club

You can request a price match against other Sam’s Club stores but not competitors. Note that this doesn’t apply to items on markdown or clearance.

Sonos

We didn’t find anything on Sonos’ website regarding the company’s price-matching policy.

Apple is refining haptic feedback technologies for future Siri Remote

tigaman webdesign — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 12:27:55 +0000

Apple has been researching the use of haptics in the Siri Remote that could guide future users silently and invisibly toward content on the device they want to control.

If you have an Apple TV set with a Siri Remote, you don’t need haptic feedback. Assuming you can find the remote, and you have it facing the right away around, then you just press a button and you know it works when your Apple TV reacts.But sometimes it’s less clear that a device has responded to your pressing on a remote control, or tapping on an iPhone app. That may be because of what you’re trying to control, such as a speaker that has no visual display.

Apple is refining haptic feedback technologies for future Siri Remote

tigaman webdesign — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 12:27:55 +0000

Apple has been researching the use of haptics in the Siri Remote that could guide future users silently and invisibly toward content on the device they want to control.